Money in Politics Review

The Money in Politics Committee will conduct an update of the League’s position on campaign finance for the purpose of addressing the lack of member understanding and agreement as to whether financing a political campaign is protected speech under the First Amendment. The campaign finance position will be updated through a study and consensus process to consider: (1) the rights of individuals and organizations, under the First Amendment, to express their political views through independent expenditures and the finance of election campaign activities; and (2) how those rights, if any, should be protected and reconciled with the interests set out in the current position

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LWVUS Board and Convention adopted the following positions during the last biennium (2014-2016). Positions on the constitutional amendment process and an update of the Leagues money in politics position were adopted after careful study and consideration by Leagues across the country. Two positions covering redistricting and behavioral health were adopted by consensus at the LWVUS 2016 convention.

The Money in Politics Committee will conduct an update of the League’s position on campaign finance for the purpose of addressing the lack of member understanding and agreement as to whether financing a political campaign is protected speech under the First Amendment. The campaign finance position will be updated through a study and consensus process to consider: (1) the rights of individuals and organizations, under the First Amendment, to express their political views through independent expenditures and the finance of election campaign activities; and (2) how those rights, if any, should be protected and reconciled with the interests set out in the current position

Oct 22 2015
This paper summarizes available options to address a series of decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court since 1976 that have weakened the procedures that regulate the spending and giving to political campaigns. These reform strategies remain constitutional in the wake of these Court decisions.

Oct 1 2015
This brief review focuses on three types of evidence about whether campaign contributions have negative effects on politics: public opinion surveys, recent experience of participants in the political process, and scholarly research in the political science literature. While some works cover data collected prior to the year 2000, the emphasis is on research available since the year 2000.